For the boys get pelf, and the town applauds,
And the church deserves the praise.

They grubbed with a will: and at length--_O cor
Humanum, pectora coeca_, and the rest!--
They found--no gauds they were prying for,
No ring, no rose, but--who would have guessed?--
A double Louis-d'or!

Here was a case for the priest: he heard,
Marked, inwardly digested, laid
Finger on nose, smiled, "A little bird
Chirps in my ear!"--then, "Bring a spade,
Dig deeper!" he gave the word.

And lo! when they came to the coffin-lid,
Or the rotten planks which composed it once,
Why, there lay the girl's skull wedged amid
A mint of money, it served for the nonce
To hold in its hair-heaps hid:

Louis-d'ors, some six times five;
And duly double, every piece.
Now do you see? With the priest to shrive,--
With parents preventing her soul's release
By kisses that keep alive,--

With heaven's gold gates about to ope,--
With friends' praise, gold-like, lingering still,--
What instinct had bidden the girl's hand grope